Xavi speaks about Lionel Messi's departure: "Laporta cancelled everything."

Few figures embody Barcelona's identity quite like Xavi Hernandez, yet his spell in the dugout ended up leaving a complicated legacy for all concerned.

Taking charge during a turbulent period at the Catalan club, the Spanish coach initially exceeded expectations, steering La Liga back to the Camp Nou.

The story turned, though, in his last campaign, which was defined by poor results, his struggles to cope with the departure of key superstars, and a breakdown in relations with Joan Laporta's board.

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Messi's desire to return to Barcelona, ​​as voiced by Xavi

After his move to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2021—following issues with registering his new contract at Barcelona—rumors resurfaced throughout Xavi’s tenure as manager that Messi wanted to return to the club of his life.

In a YouTube podcast with Prakhat Gupta, Xavi confirmed that he had been in personal contact with Lionel Messi for four months, engaging in ongoing discussions to persuade him to return to Barcelona—a move directly supported by the Spanish legend regarding his Argentine friend's comeback.

We were in contact for four months. Messi was very keen to return to Barcelona, and I was 100 per cent in favour of it. Messi himself had a lot of hope, and I and the entire coaching staff were also waiting with great expectations,

Xavi stated.

Ultimately, the Spanish legend revealed that the intervention of Barcelona's current president, Joan Laporta, was what halted everything, and consequently, Messi did not return to Barcelona.

Messi himself had a lot of hope, and I and the entire coaching staff were also waiting with great expectations

Xavi said.

A tough and difficult decision

Calling the abrupt chain of events both unforeseen and deeply awkward, Xavi made clear just how much it weighed on him — above all because of the discussions he had already had with his old team-mate.

“This is true and very strange, It was very difficult for me to say to Messi, ‘We will not do it. We will not do it.'”

His own telling of the episode lays bare just how painful it was for him to find his way through one of the most emotionally charged transfer sagas in Barcelona's recent past.

Hazem Mlhem |

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Hazem Mlhem est un rédacteur sportif expérimenté, animé par une passion pour le football africain.

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